Volunteers lend a hand during United Way's Day of Caring

California Lutheran University student volunteers Lorna Banuilos (left) and Kiersten Schmidt work to assemble part of the roof for a shelter at the River Haven camp for the needy in Ventura. They were participating in the United Way's Day of Caring.

Special to the Star

Jackie Mahan made a promise to God nine years ago.

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer," said the Camarillo resident and Anthem Blue Cross employee. "I told God that if I could get through this, I would give back and keep giving back."

Mahan was one of nearly 1,000 volunteers working Saturday morning for United Way of Ventura County's 23rd annual Day of Caring.

"At Anthem, we do a lot of volunteering at the food bank and other places," Mahan said. "I enjoy it so much"

She was working with a partner at one of three stations at the United Way's Camarillo headquarters making dog toys for the Ventura County animal shelter.

"We have 18 different projects going on across the county today," said Marisa Lopez, director of volunteers for the United Way of Ventura County. "This is one of the ways we show what it means to live united.

"The Day of Caring happens all across the U.S., but it actually started right here in Ventura County. This was where the first one happened."

In the United Way's parking lot, Kelsey Hiton, 14, was organizing a table of volunteers making greeting cards for the Meals on Wheels program. The cards are provided when each meal is delivered.

"I like helping the community and I like doings arts and crafts, so this is nice to do for people," Kelsey said. "I'm working both morning and afternoon shifts."

Kelsey's mom, Marie Hiton, said: "We're trying to give her that balance. She's the youngest, and we've been volunteering since our two older ones were little. It's good for the community, and we love doing it."

Inside the conference room, Joanna Chacon and Laurie Plunkett, both of Camarillo, were preparing binders for something called picture exchange communication systems.

"They're used for special needs kids, for kids with autism who aren't verbal communicators," Chacon said. "It's a really great project."

Plunkett, a Ventura County public health employee, said: "I do this every year. It's so rewarding."

In Oxnard, volunteers were doing an "extreme makeover" for the Community Action nonprofit building, fixing the entryway awning and painting. At Nyeland Acres, volunteers were doing landscape and outdoor work, among other projects. Volunteers also were on hand at the RAIN transitional shelter and at Food SHARE, among other locations.

"We even have kids out here helping, young children," said Lopez, whose daughter Leila Lopez-Messecar, 8, was helping at the Meals on Wheels card station. "I brought her out here when she was 4 years old, and she would hand out pamphlets, and so she's grown up with this."

David Smith, president and CEO of the United Way of Ventura County, was at the Nyeland Acres site.

"There's a genuine interest in this county in giving back and in helping," he said. "We have people asking us how they can get more involved and volunteer more than just one day out of the year."